The award recognizes individuals or organizations whose leadership, vision and actions have brought about positive and lasting change in the way their community or the state regards housing.

“This award recognizes the Homeownership Centers for delivering pre-purchase education and delinquency and foreclosure prevention assistance that’s been so vital during the mortgage crisis. By working with borrowers before they buy their home and after they close, they’ve helped keep Vermont’s foreclosure rate so low,” according to Carpenter. As of June 30, 2010, only 2.05% of Vermont home loans were delinquent by 90 or more days. That’s less than half the national rate of 4.54%.

“Also award-worthy is their invaluable partnership with VHFA creating affordable housing from foreclosed, dilapidated properties through the Housing Acquisition & Rehabilitation Program (HARP).

“Finally, that they’ve performed so well during the nation’s worst economy since the Great Depression — and in the wake of substantially reduced budgets — makes the award all the more appropriate,” she adds.

The HOCs serve Vermonters with orientation sessions, workshops, and individual counseling for future homebuyers; and continuing education, energy efficiency loans and other improvements for current homebuyers through seven locations: Central Vermont Community Land Trust, Barre; Champlain Housing Trust, Burlington and St. Albans; Gilman Housing Trust, Lyndonville; HomeOwnership Center, Springfield; NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, West Rutland; and Windham Housing Trust, Brattleboro.

They’re affiliated with NeighborWorks® America, a national non-profit organization created by Congress to provide financial support, technical assistance, and training for communitybased revitalization efforts.

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